Printing ribbon advancing means

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for printing a succession of individual inscriptions on a continuous strip of material by transfer of a printing medium from a continuous ribbon coated therewith wherein the apparatus includes a unique motion transfer mechanism for automatically advancing the ribbon at each printing sequence. The mechanism also provides for selective adjustment of the distance by which the ribbon is advanced at each cycle. A first cam carried by the printing apparatus drive shaft moves type faces sequentially in and out of contact with the ribbon and a second cam on the same drive shaft effects intermittent rotation of a friction roller to advance the ribbon when the type face is out of contact therewith. The second cam drives a reciprocating arm which transmits motion to a pawl and ratchet, a manually positionable stop being provided to limit travel to the arm, and thereby rotation of the ratchet and friction roll to determine the amount of ribbon advance at each cycle.

United States Patent [191 Filsinger et al.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 PRINTING RIBBON ADVANCING MEANS [73] Assignee: Texmark, Incorporated, Syracuse,

22 Filed: Mar. 22, 1974 21 App]. No.: 453,847

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 272,922, Sept. 13, 1972.

[52] U.S. Cl 101/90; 101/102; 197/153 R; 197/156 [51] Int. Cl B41j 35/34 [58] Field of Search 101/66, 67, 90, 96, 102, 101/107; 197/153 A, 153 R, 156

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,575 7/1933 Knitter 101/21 2,025,236 12/1935 Handley 197/153 R 2,359,502 10/1944 Wyrick 197/153 R 3,331,315 7/1967 Henry 101/90 3,400,659 9/1968 Baldwin et a1... 101/90 X 3,657,051 4/1972 McCarthy 101/27 3,707,910 l/l973 Combs 101/102 Landis 101/102 Combs 197/156 X Primary Examiner-Clyde l. Coughenour Attorney, Agent, or FirmCharles S. Mc Guire [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for printing a succession of individual inscriptions on a continuous strip of material by transfer of a printing medium from a continuous ribbon coated therewith wherein the apparatus includes a unique motion transfer mechanism for automatically advancing the ribbon at each printing sequence. The mechanism also provides for selective adjustment of the distance by which the ribbon is advanced at each cycle. A first cam carried by the printing apparatus drive shaft moves type faces sequentially in and out of contact with the ribbon and a second cam on the same drive shaft effects intermittent rotation of a friction roller to advance the ribbon when the type face is out of contact therewith. The second cam drives a reciprocating arm which transmits motion to a pawl and ratchet, a manually positionable stop being provided to limit travel to the arm, and thereby rotation of the ratchet and friction roll to determine the amount of ribbon advance at each cycle.

4 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dc. 16,1975 Sheet 1 ofll 3,926,109

STA 4 a ISAMPLE {SAMPLE ISAIVIPLE |I NYLON l NYLON DRIP DRY l US. Patent Dec.16,1975 Sheet20f11 3,926,109

US. Patent Dc.16,1975 Sheet30f11 3,926,109

1* :lwimmww w 4 6 Will 1 US Patent D'6C. 16,1975 Sheet40f11 3,926,109

US. Patent D ec.16,1975 SheetSofll 3,926,109

FIG.7

US. Patent Dec.16,1975 Sheet6of11 3,926,109

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet70f11 3,926,109

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet80f11 3,926,109

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet90f11 3,926,109

FIG. 13

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 10 ofll 3,926,109

Sheet 11 of 11 U8. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 T Y//////////////Z 4J PRINTING RIBBON ADVANCING MEANS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of application Ser. No. 272,922, filed Sept. 13, I972, of the same inventors, for Automatic Textile Marking Machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for sequentially applying permanently printed indicia to a receiving material from a continuous strip of ribbon coated with the printing medium. More specifically, the invention relates to novel apparatus operable in conjunction with the printing mechanism to advance the ribbon between each printing cycle, thereby presenting a fresh ribbon surface for print transfer at each cycle.

Webs of flexible material are intermittently advanced from a supply roll, or the like, in a wide variety of applications. The present invention is concerned with, and has as a principal object the provision of, novel apparatus for effecting sequential, intermittent advance of a web in synchronism with other operations. In certain printing operations, indicia are applied to a receiving material by pressing a flexible ribbon coated with the printing medium into. contact with the material by raised characters corresponding to the indicia to be printed. The ribbon must be advanced each time the raised characters are brought into contact therewith in order to present a fresh surface of printing medium.

Apparatus has been designed, as disclosed in applicants above-referenced co-pending application, to print rapidly, in a continuous sequence, a succession of indicia on a continuous strip of textile material. Such apparatus requires means for positioning a flexible ribbon coated with the printing medium between the type face and the underlying strip, and for advancing the ribbon by a predetermined incrementduring each printing cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide selective adjustmentmeans for controling the distance by which a flexible web in advanced at each cycle of a continuous operation involving the web. 7 a

A further object is to provide means for advancing a web longitudinally by mechanism associated with rotational movement of a portion of the same web.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing objects, a flexible printing ribbon is threaded from a supply roll, around ribbon guide means, between frictional engagement members, to a waste supply. Type face carrying the inscription to be printed is affixed to a carriage mounted for reciprocating, pivotal movement between positions contacting and spaced from a portion of the ribbon passing around the guide means. A drive shaft carries a cam which rotates to effect movement of the type carriage. v

A. second cam carried by the same drive shaft produces reciprocating linear motion of an arm, which is translated to reciprocating arcuate movement of a pawl. An end of the pawl engages a ratchet wheel having teeth shaped such that the pawl rotates the wheel in one direction only as it reciprocates. The ratchet wheel is affixed to a shaft-which also fixedly carries a roller forming one of the friction members between which the 2 ribbon passes. Thus, as the drive shaft rotates, the type carriage is intermittently moved to engage the ribbon, and the ribbon is intermittently advanced when the type face is out of contact therewith.

The linearly reciprocating arm is pivotally attached to a bell crank which carries the follower for the second cam. The arm is spring biased in the direction which moves the pawl to rotate the ratchet wheel, and contacts a fixed stop to limit movement in such direction at a time when the follower leaves the cam. The stop is selectively positioned by threaded engagement in a block fixed to the frame. Thus, the amount of wheel rotation, and thereby the distance of ribbon advance for each full rotation of the drive shaft may be selectively controled.

The invention is disclosed in the context of a marking machine having a plurality of print stations, each including a separate ribbon and type unit. The friction drive rollers for all ribbons are carried on the same shaft, whereby all ribbons may be advanced in unison by a fixed increment with a single cam and motion translating mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four-station label printing machine incorporating the apparatus of the invention; I

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, plan view of a portion of the textile label tapeas it is advanced through the four printing stations; I I

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 isa fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of selected elements of the printing machine;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary, side elevational views, in section on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4, showing the printing unit carriage in the retracted and contacting P t ns;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary, side elevational views, in section on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4, showing the ribbon carriage in the retracted and contacting positions;

, FIGS. 10 and 11 are side elevational views of the 'motion transfer mechanism of the present invention shown in two positions; I

1 FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the mechanism of FIGS. 10 and 11; 7

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the complete printing machine with portions broken away;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of portions of the drive system;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, plan view of the tape feed portion of the printing machine;

. FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the tapefeed portion;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a first form of printing unit;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view on the line l919 of FIG. 18; and i FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of printing unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The textile label printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes four printing stations, as that term is explained more fully hereinafter. It will be readily appreciated,

from an understanding of the disclosed embodiment, that any desired number of printing stations, up to a maximum dictated by practical considerations, may be incorporated. The printing units are arranged in sideby-side relation and are generally indicated in FIG. 1 by reference numerals 10, 12, 14 and 16, detailed construction and operation thereof being disclosed in connection with other figures.

The printing units each include raised type faces with electrical means for providing heat thereto. Temperature control units 18, 20, 22 and 24 are provided for maintaining the temperature of the respective type faces at a desired level in a conventional manner. A separate strip of printing ribbon is provided for each printing unit and threaded through the apparatus to pass between the type face and the material to be printed upon. A portion of each of the strips, numbered 26, 28, 30 and 32, may be seen in FIG. 1 adjacent the respective printing units. The printing ribbons are preferably of a standard commercial variety, comprising a paper or other flexible material base having a heat sensitive resin coating of any desired color. As heated type face is pressed against the ribbon, with its coated face against the textile to be marked, the coating is transferred to the cloth and permanently set therein by the heat to produce indicia corresponding to the type face. The width of the ribbon is commensurate with that of the type face to be transferred.

The textile material upon which the inscription is to be printed is supplied in the form of a continuous tape 34, fed from rotatably mounted supply roll 36, through a position sensing and indexing mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 38, under each of the four printing units and ribbons, and thg ugh feed mechanism 40. The latter grasps tape 34 and pulls it longitudinally through the apparatus in an intermittent manner, between printing cycles.

A fragment of tape 34 is shown in FIG. 2 to illustrate the sequential printing operation. The printing units and ribbons are mounted on reciprocally movable carriages and are driven back and forth between contacting and retracted positions with respect to the tape. Each time the carriages are moved downwardly, the coated face of the printing ribbon contacts the tape and the heated type faces contact the ribbon so that a print transfer takes place at each station, i.e., the position of the tape adjacent each printing unit. The stations are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 in FIG. 2 and the direction of travel of the tape indicated by an arrow. As indicated by the example in the drawing, a distinct portion of the total indicia, e.g., a separate line, is applied at each station so that a complete inscription is incorporated on the tape when it leaves station 4. In a later, separate operation the tape is cut between each inscription to form individual labels, which may be then folded as required and applied to garments or other articles.

Referring again to FIG. 1, base 41 serves to enclose and support major components of the apparatus. Side plates 44 and 46 also serve as stationary supports and mounting units. Ribbon advance mechanism 48, shown in detail later, is mounted on side plate 44 and transfers motion from a drive shaft to printing ribbon drive roll 50, rotatably supported between the two side plates. All of the tape ribbons are held in frictional engagement with ribbon drive roll 50 by respective tension rolls 52, 54, 56 and 58, mounted for free rotation on the forked end of arms 60, 62, 64 and 66, respectively. The arms are mounted on shaft 68, extending rigidly between side plates 44 and 46, and biased by springs 70, 72, 74 and 76, respectively, toward engagement of the tension rolls with the ribbon drive roll. The springs are affixed at the ends opposite the connection with the tension arms, to cross piece 78, rigidly connected between side plates 44 and 46.

Many of the elements shown generally in FIG. 1 are also seen in the front elevation and plan views of FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. Roll 36, from which tape 34 is fed, is mounted on support as in motor 81. The tape is fed off roll 36 by movement of motor 81, and is threaded around a laterally extending portion of arm 82 which is connected to microswitch 84. The speed and/or shutoff control for motor 81 is connected through microswitch 84 in order to maintain proper loop length in the tape feed and to prevent damage in case of malfunction in the tape feed.

The tape position sensing and index mechanism 38 is also shown in somewhat more detail in FIG. 3. Feed mechanism 40, as described in detail later, includes rollers between which tape 34 passes and which alternately engage and release the tape..When theItape is engaged between the feed rolls it is advanced through the apparatus by a distance equal to or slightly'longer than the distance between printing stations, i.e., the tape is moved beyond the desired point since the amount of movement imparted by the feed rolls is not precisely controlled. When the feed rolls release the tape, gripper 86 is lowered to engage the tape between the edge of the gripper and the underlying support. Gripper 86 is biased toward engagement with the tape and is movable out of engagement therewith by actuation of solenoid 88. The gripper and solenoid are mounted on linearly reciprocating carriage 90. Rod 92 connects carriage 90 with one end of crank arm 94. The other end of the crank arm carries follower '96 and is spring biased to maintain the follower in contact-with cam 98.

Rotation of cam 98, by drive means disclosed later, effects reciprocal rotation of crank 94, and thus reciprocal linear movement of carriage 90. Tape 34 is precisely indexed by providing markings thereon at intervals equal to the desired distance of movement at each cycle, sensing the position of such markings by a lightphotocell arrangement, a portion of which is indicated by reference numeral 100, and actuating solenoid 88 in response to sensing of the presence of a mark. That is, after tape 34 has been fed forwardly and released by the feed rolls, solenoid 88 is deactuated to allow the tape to be engaged by gripper 86. At this time, movement of rod 92 and carriage 90 will be toward the left as seen in FIG. 3. Thus, the tape will be drawn toward the left until one of the markings on the tape is sensed by light-photocell arrangement which, through control box 102, actuates solenoid 88, thereby lifting gripper 86 out of contact with the tape and leaving the latterproperly indexed for the next printing cycle. Of course, the amount of overtravel imparted to tape 34 by feed mechanism 40 must be less than the stroke of rod 92; otherwise, the amount of overtravel is not important since the gripper may release the tape at any point in its return (leftward) travel.

In FIG. 4 the individual supply rolls 104, 106, 108 and 110 of printing ribbon are shown. Tension arms 60, 62, 64 and 66 are also shown more clearly, pivoted on rod 68, and cooperating with ribbon drive roll 54. Drive shaft 112 is journaled at each end in side plates 44 and 46, and carries cams 114 and 116. Rod 118 extends rigidly between side plates 44 and 46 only for lateral stability.

Turning now to FIG. 5, two of the major sub-assemblies of the printing machine are shown in exploded perspective. The upper unit is designated generally by reference numeral 120 and termed the ribbon carriage, while lower unit 122 is termed the type carriage. The two carriages are mounted between side plates 44 and 46 for rotation about a common axis defined by rod 124. Ribbon carriage 120 includes a pair of side members 126 and 128 joined by a plurality of ribbon guide rods 130, 132 134 and 136. Springs 138, the function of which will be explained later, are supported adjacent members 126 and 128, respectively, by guide rods 132 and 134. Positioning blocks 140 and 142 are fixedly attached to the inner sides of the respective side members.

Type carriage 122 likewise includes a pair of side members 144 and 146, through which rod 124 extends and which fit between the side members of ribbon carriage 120. Front cross piece 148 serves as a rigid support for type carriers 150. To rear cross piece 152 is affixed arm 154 which supports cam follower 156. Spring 158 is tensioned between arm 154 and cross piece 78 (FIGS. 1 and 4) to exert a biasing force on type carriage 122 tending to move arm 154 in an upward direction.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the biasing force of spring 158 urges follower 156 toward contact with cam 114. As drive shaft 112 rotates, the high part of cam 114 maintains type carriage 122 in the position of FIG. 6, termed the retracted position. Printing unit 16 is shown affixed to carrier 150, the latter secured to cross piece 148 of the carriage. Raised type face 160 is removably positioned on the printing unit by means described later, and is heated by conventional electrical means. Block 162 is supported by stiff springs 164, and carries one or more tape backers 166 in registration with type face 160. Backers 166 are made of neoprene, or other suitable material, not rigid but of limited resiliency and capable of withstanding the heat applied by the type face (e.g. 450 F).

As drive shaft 112 continues to rotate, the low part of cam 114 comes into registration with follower 156, as shown in FIG. 7. As spring 158 urges printing unit carriage 122 toward counterclockwise rotation about rod 124 (as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7) type face 160 presses the ribbon and tape into contact against backers 166. It is preferred that cam 114 leave follower 156, as shown, when type face 160 is in the contacting position to insure a uniform and repeatable pressure. If desired, tension on spring 158, and thus pressure of type face 160, may be altered by adjusting the position of units 168 on threaded hook 170 which supports the spring. Support of block 162 on stiff springs 164 (four springs would normally be provided for each block) provides a selfleveling action, thereby assuring uniform pressure despite irregularities in alignment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the retracted and contacting positions of ribbon carriage 120, which is biased by its own weight and by light spring 172 toward rotation in a counterclockwise direction about rod 124. Movement is limited in this direction by contact of positioning block 140 with the upper edge of side member 144 of type carriage 122, and of clock 142 with side member 146 on the opposite side, when held in the retracted position by cam 1 14. Printing unit 16 is shown in dotted lines to illustrate that type face 160 is spaced from ribbon 32 in the retracted position of the carriages, just as the ribbon is spaced from tape 34. As carriage 122 rotates under the biasing force of spring 158, as previously described, ribbon carriage will also rotate with blocks and 142 remaining in contact with side members 144 and 146 until the ribbons contact tape 34. Type carriage 122 continues to rotate the remaining distance until type faces contact the ribbon, thus transferring the printing medium to the fabric of tape 34 as previously described. Continued rotation of drive shaft 112 and cam 114 moves both carriages back to the retracted position, and the cycle is repeated.

It will be noted in FIG. 9 that spring 138 is resiliently compressed against tape 34. Springs 138 are provided in the manner indicated on carriage 120 on each side of all four ribbons (a total of eight springs 138). As the carriages move upwardly after the printing operation, the type faces will first move out of contact with the ribbons, until side members 144 and 146 contact blocks 140 and 142. The ribbons will then move out of contact with the tape. I-Iowever, springs 138 will still contact tape 34 as they move back to their unflexed configuration. This provides the useful fimction of holding tape 34 against the underlying support as the ribbons are removed, thus insuring that the tape does not wrinkle or otherwise move in spite of any tendency of the ribbon to stick to the tape after the printing operation.

Also seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the complete path of the ribbon as it is fed from the supply roll, around guide 174, the four guides on the ribbon carriage, and between rolls 54 and 58. After passing between the latter, the used ribbon is allowed to slide down trays 176 to a waste collection receptacle, or the like. The trays may be supported in any convenient manner on the side plates, tension arms, etc.

After each printing operation a fresh portion of ribbon must be positioned between the type faces and the tape. When the carriages are in the retracted position, ribbon drive roll 54 is rotated by an appropriate increment to effect such positioning. The outer surface of roll 54 preferably has a high coefficient of friction to assure that the ribbon will not slip when the drive roll is rotated.

The mechanism of the present invention for imparting the desired amount of rotation is shown in FIGS. 10-12. Drive shaft 112 and cam 116 rotate continuously in the direction indicated. Follower 178 is mounted on crank 180 which rotates about fixed pivot 182 and is connected to arm 184 at movable pivot 186 and pivot 188 on rotatable element 190, mounted on the same shaft that carries drive roll 54, and biased toward leftward movement as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 by spring 192. The spring is tensioned between arm 184 and extension 194 affixed to side plate 44. Element 190 carries pawl 196 for engagement with ratchet wheel 198, affixed to the shaft of drive roll 54.

As cam 116 rotates with the high part thereof in contact with follower 178, arm 186 is moved toward the right and element 190 rotates clockwise, as indicated, with pawl 196 riding over the teeth of ratchet wheel 198. When the low part of cam 116 moves into registration with follower 178 (FIG. 11) spring 192 pulls arm 184 to the left until block 200, affixed to the arm, contacts the end of elongated screw 202, threaded through block 204 on side plate 44. As arm 184 moves to the left, element 190 is rotated counterclockwise and pawl 196 engages and rotates ratchet wheel 198.

Since the latter is affixed to the shaft on which drive roll 54 is mounted, the drive roll is likewise rotated to move the printing ribbons. The increment of movement of the ribbons may be conveniently adjusted by turning screw 202 to position the end thereof for contact by block 200 at the desired point.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 are shown the primary drive system, comprising electric motor 206 and gear boxes 208 and 210. Motor 206 is mounted and movable upon laterally extending lead screws 212 to allow adjustment of the tension on belt 214 which transmits rotation from motor pulley 216 to gear box pulley 218. The output shaft of gear box 208 drives sprocket 220. Chain 222 is trained around drive sprocket 220, tension sprocket 224, sprocket 226 on the end of drive shaft 112, sprocket 228 on the input shaft of gear box 210, and guide sprocket 230. Cable 232 extends between arm 154 and lever 234, pivotally connected to base 42 at 236. End portion 238 of lever 234 extends through a slot in base 42 and lever 234 may be depressed conveniently as a foot pedal to rotate carriages 120 and 122 to an inoperative position, with the forward ends thereof raised beyond the retracted position. Sufficient slack in cable 232 permits movement of the carriages between the retracted and contacting positions during normal operation without movement of lever 234. Easier access to portions of the printing units and other elements mounted on the carriages may be had in the inoperative position. A side portion 240 (FIG. 1) of the slot through which end portion 238 extends is provided for releasably retaining the lever with the carriages in the inoperative position. Also shown in FIG. 13 is electrical cord 242 which connects the printing units to the voltage source through temperature control units 18, 20, 22 and 24. Block 244 in FIG. 14 indicates the housing for electrical power supply and control components.

1 Tape 34 is guided laterally at each end of the apparatus by grooves through which the edges of the tape travel. The grooves are defined by the underlying support and a pair of plates affixed in spaced relation, the plates adjacent the tape feed mechanism end of the apparatus being shown in FIG. 15 and designated by reference numerals 246 and 248. Plates 246 and 248 are adjustably secured to laterally extending adjustment plate 250 by screws extending through elongated slots in the plates. Plate 250 is similarly secured to the underlying support, thus allowing adjustment of the spacing between the grooves, if a different width of tape is to be used, or of the lateral position of the grooves while maintaining the same spacing.

A pair of gripper rolls 252 are affixed to shaft 254 which is joumaled in supports 256. Tape 34 passes between gripper rolls 252 and friction roll 258, as seen in FIG. 16, the latter being mounted on a shaft resting in grooves in spaced arms 260 and 262 (FIG. 17). Shaft 264 serves as a pivotal mounting for arms 260 and 262 which are biased by spring 266 toward movement in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 16. That is, the spring is compressed and urges the ends of the arms carrying the friction roll in an upward direction, toward engagement thereof with tape 34.

Arm 260 is connected by linkage 268 to one end of arm 270, mounted at the other end for pivotal movement about stub shaft 272 and carrying follower 274 at a central location. Cam 276 is carried on output shaft 278 of gear box 210, as is cam 98 previously described in connection with FIG. 3. Cam 276 cooperates with follower 274 to effect reciprocal rotation of arm 270, and thus of arms 260 and 262 about their respective pivotal mountings. When the high part of cam 276 engages follower 274, arms 260 and 262 are rotated against the forceof spring 266 to move friction roller 258 out of engagement with tape 34.

Arm 280 is also carried on the end of shaft 278 for rotation therewith. Element 282 is positionable a variable distance from the center of rotation of arm 280 by means of the setting of screw 284. Chain 286 is secured at one end to element 282, passes over sprocket 288, and is connected to spring 290 at the other end. The spring is anchored at 292, whereby rotation of arm 280 and the bias of spring 290 produce reciprocal movement of chain 286 and reciprocal rotation of sprocket 288 and gripper rolls 252. When the low part of cam 276 is in registration with follower 274, tape 34 is frictionally engaged between roll 258 on the lower side and rolls 252 on the upper side; the direction of rotation of rolls 252 at this time is such that tape 34 is longitudinally advanced through the apparatus. When the high part of cam 276 engages follower 274, roll 258 is moved out of engagement with tape 34, which remains stationary as the direction of rotation of rolls 252 is reversed.

In FIGS. 18-20 are shown two embodiments of type units to be mounted on type carriage 122. The embodiment of FIGS. 18 and 19 incorporates a flat plate carrying the individual dies or lines of type face. Upper plate 294 is appropriately secured to side plates 296, each having inwardly directed flanges 298 to define grooves along the sides of the printing unit, into which may be inserted lateral edges 304 of plate 306 having one or more appropriately shaped openings 308 for accepting printing dies carrying raised type face 310. Pin 302 includes manually engageable tab 312, extending over block 300 to facilitate lifting the pin to permitsliding withdrawal and insertion of plates such as 306. When in operating position the plates are retained between pin 302 and rear portion 314 of block 300. v

The printing units are supported upon rod 316 which extends through openings in the side plates. Rod 316 is also shown in FIG. 3, extending laterally across the apparatus, and in section in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein details of mounting of the type units, comprising the type face and supporting structure, is shown in detail. Each unit is slidable laterally on rod 316 and is retained against pivotal movement about the shaft by engagement of lip 318 in a groove defined by holder and plate 320, secured thereto in spaced relation. Rod 316 may be supported with respect to printing unit carriage 122 by supports at the center, and end supports which are removable to permit the individual type units to be removed when necessary.

The type unit embodiment of FIG. 20 comprises a plurality of separate disks, indicated collectively by reference numeral 322, each carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced raised characters and rotatably mounted on spindle 324. A fragment of rod 316 is also shown in FIG. 20, to indicate that the type units are mounted on the carriage in essentially the same manner as that previously described. Locking spindle 326 is removably secured to one or both end plates of the type unit and may be removed to allow rotation of the individual disks to place the desired type face in the lowermost, or printing position. Indicia are also preferably provided in the grooves between the raised type so that the characters in the groove immediately above locking 9 spindle 326 correspond to those of the type face in printing position, as indicated by the dotted line. Thus, the individual characters of the type face in printing position may be conveniently observed from above.

A type unit of the rotatable disk type, while more expensive than a flat plate or die, is susceptible of a wide variation of printed indicia merely by repositioning the disks. On the other hand, a new plate, or new type characters must be provided each time the inscription is to be changed when using flat dies or plates. The use of rotatable disk type units would not be possible in a single station marking machine wherein two or more closely spaced lines are to be printed. Thus, the multistation machine of the present invention makes possible the use of more versatile and ultimately more economical type units than prior art machines of this type.

An additional feature of the machine is counter 328, seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The counter is incremented each cycle to indicate the number of complete labels printed, beginning with the fourth cycle after start-up,

when the first label is completed in the four-station machine disclosed. An automatic shut-off may also be incorporated with the counter to stop the machine after a desired number of labels have been printed so that the indicia at one or more printing stations can be changed for the next group of labels.

Still another feature, shown in FIG. 16, is a convenient means for marking portions of tape 34 which are to be scrapped. Marking pen 336 extends loosely into an opening in block 332 and is supported by spring 334. An inspector may, upon observing defective labels entering the feed mechanism, press down on pen 336 to compressing spring 334 and bring the point of the pen into contact with the textile tape, marking it as scrap. As soon as pen 330 is released it will be moved by spring 334 out of contact with the tape.

From the foregoing disclosure it may be seen that the invention provides means for printing textile labels in a fully automatic manner which is reliable and efficient, as well as economical.

What is claimed is:

1. ln apparatus for making successive inscriptions on a continuous strip of textile material by transfer of a printing medium from each of a plurality of continuous ribbons coated therewith by pressure of raised type face with ribbons while contacting the strip, mechanism for automatically advancing the ribbon and strip by selectively controlled increments in conjunction with sequential movement of the type face to make successive inscriptions, said mechanism comprising:

a. powered drive means;

b. a plurality of individual pairs of ribbon advancing rollers arranged with the rollers of each pair frictionally engaging therebetween one of the continuous ribbons, and one roller of each pair carried by a common shaft;

c. a base support defining a plane and path of movement for the textile strip;

means supporting the type face and ribbons for reciprocating movement between a first position,

wherein each of the ribbons contact the strip and the type face contacts the ribbons, and a second position, wherein the ribbons are spaced from the strip and the type face is spaced from the ribbons;

e. a pair of strip advancing rollers between which the strip is frictionally engaged;

f. first cam means rotatable by said drive means to move the type face and ribbons between said first and second positions;

g. second cam means rotatable by said drive means to effect intermittent rotation of said common shaft, thereby rotating said one ribbon advancing roller of each pair and advancing each of the ribbons;

h. third cam means rotatable by said drive means to effect intermittent rotation of one of said strip advancing rollers, thereby moving said strip along its path of movement;

i. motion transfer means for transmitting movement from said drive means through each of said cam means to effect simultaneous advanceof the ribbons and strip upon each movement of the type face and ribbons to said second position;

j. first adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance of travel of the ribbons at each intermittent advance thereof; and

k. second adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance of travel of the strip at each intermittent advance thereof.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said third cam means comprises means for moving one of said strip advancing rollers sequentially between frictionally engaged and separated positions with respect to the other of said strip engaging rollers.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said motion transfer means including means for alternately rotating said other strip engaging roller in opposite directions, and cooperatively arranged with respect to said third cam means to move the strip in the desired direction by rotation of said other roller when said one roller is in said engaged position.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first and second cam means each include a rotating cam member arranged on the same shaft. 

1. In apparatus for making successive inscriptions on a continuous strip of textile material by transfer of a printing medium from each of a plurality of continuous ribbons coated therewith by pressure of raised type face with ribbons while contacting the strip, mechanism for automatically advancing the ribbon and strip by selectively controlled increments in conjunction with sequential movement of the type faCe to make successive inscriptions, said mechanism comprising: a. powered drive means; b. a plurality of individual pairs of ribbon advancing rollers arranged with the rollers of each pair frictionally engaging therebetween one of the continuous ribbons, and one roller of each pair carried by a common shaft; c. a base support defining a plane and path of movement for the textile strip; d. means supporting the type face and ribbons for reciprocating movement between a first position, wherein each of the ribbons contact the strip and the type face contacts the ribbons, and a second position, wherein the ribbons are spaced from the strip and the type face is spaced from the ribbons; e. a pair of strip advancing rollers between which the strip is frictionally engaged; f. first cam means rotatable by said drive means to move the type face and ribbons between said first and second positions; g. second cam means rotatable by said drive means to effect intermittent rotation of said common shaft, thereby rotating said one ribbon advancing roller of each pair and advancing each of the ribbons; h. third cam means rotatable by said drive means to effect intermittent rotation of one of said strip advancing rollers, thereby moving said strip along its path of movement; i. motion transfer means for transmitting movement from said drive means through each of said cam means to effect simultaneous advance of the ribbons and strip upon each movement of the type face and ribbons to said second position; j. first adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance of travel of the ribbons at each intermittent advance thereof; and k. second adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance of travel of the strip at each intermittent advance thereof.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said third cam means comprises means for moving one of said strip advancing rollers sequentially between frictionally engaged and separated positions with respect to the other of said strip engaging rollers.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said motion transfer means including means for alternately rotating said other strip engaging roller in opposite directions, and cooperatively arranged with respect to said third cam means to move the strip in the desired direction by rotation of said other roller when said one roller is in said engaged position.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first and second cam means each include a rotating cam member arranged on the same shaft. 